What happened
On 21 February 2018, a Vans RV-8A, registration G-HCCF, was performing a series of short-field landing practice maneuvers at Old Sarum Airfield in Wiltshire. The flight was being operated from the rear seat by the pilot, while the aircraft owner occupied the front seat. Because the aircraft's mainwheel braking controls are only accessible from the front cockpit, the pilot relied on the passenger to apply the brakes.
After two successful landings on the grass runway, a third approach was attempted. The aircraft touched down on a section of the runway characterized by an uphill gradient and a surface undulation. This landing resulted in a bounce. Although the occupants initially believed only the mainwheels had contacted the ground, the nosewheel also made firm contact with the surface.
Following the bounce, the aircraft touched down again. As the pilot requested more firm braking from the passenger, the aircraft decelerated rapidly. During this process, the nose dropped, and the propeller struck the ground. The momentum caused the aircraft to flip, eventually coming to rest in an inverted position with a broken canopy. There were no fatalities and no injuries to the two occupants.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and the airfield surface, noting that while the grass had drained well after recent rain, the ground remained soft. Physical examination of the aircraft revealed that the nose landing gear fork unit had sustained significant damage, with the gear bending rearwards after digging into the soft earth.
Evidence from a witness supported the finding that the third landing was heavier than the previous two and that the aircraft was in a relatively flat attitude during the bounce. The investigation also reviewed the operational configuration, noting that the pilot was flying from the rear seat, which prevented direct access to the braking pedals.